Re: [ARSCLIST] A tape Vinegar Syndrome experience

["Richard L. Hess" <ArcLists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 12:57 AM 9/10/2005, Mike Richter wrote:
> Richard L. Hess wrote:
> > Was Kodak a bargain brand or a premium brand that wasn't properly 
> > marketed and failed in the marketplace? I thought the latter, but I 
> > could be wrong.
>
> It was a moderately priced brand, but far from "bargain" when I 
> bought a half-dozen reels in about 1963. Kept in the cardboard boxes 
> tightly wound, all failed in a half-dozen years. The binder adhered 
> firmly to the backing - more firmly than to the proper side, firmly 
> enough to leave the oxide a powder in the deck when played. Even 
> manual unwinding of the first meter or so made it clear that they 
> were beyond recovery.

That is depressing. Had you kept or thrown away the plastic bags? So 
we need to add "Kodak tape" to our list of highly endangered assets? 
I've received other similar reports both privately and publicly. I 
think a pattern is showing. I guess my client was lucky that I was 
able to play the tapes since they dated from the first half of the 1960s.

Cheers,

Richard


Richard L. Hess                           email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Vignettes 
Media                           web:   http://www.richardhess.com/tape/
Aurora, Ontario, Canada             (905) 713 6733     1-877-TAPE-FIX
Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm